I walked over to the sideboard and grabbed a plate, silverware, and a coffee cup. All of the food was on the table. I walked around and sat down next to Andrew. I wanted to sit next to Jack, but he was still denying he was gay and it wasn't my right to out him to everyone. That was a choice he had to make.
Still, when the guy glanced in my direction, I couldn't help winking at him. Jack's jaw clenched as a red flush worked its way up his neck as he glanced away.
Okay then.
I scooped some food out onto my plate then poured myself some coffee. I enjoyed listening to the others get reacquainted as I ate my breakfast. This was one of the reasons I wanted everyone in the same place. Well, that, and the fact that we seemed to be safer together than when we were apart.
After I finished eating, I pushed my plate away and reached for my coffee. "I hate to be a downer here, but has there been any developments since last night?"
Ian shook his head. "Nothing yet."
"I'm running a couple of computer programs to look into Carl Atkins. He may say that Robert Atkins was his uncle and the man died recently, but I want to know where he came from. I suspect that Carl Atkins was a name Atkins created in the same manner he created Robert Atkins."
"It would be nice if we got some fingerprints on this guy," Andrew said. "We could run those, and then we'd really know who we were working with."
"I'm pretty sure a man like Atkins has already thought of that," Cooper replied.
"DNA then?"
"Even if we had it, where would we run it?" Ian asked. "He'd have to have his DNA logged somewhere in order for it to spit something out."
"True." Andrew nodded. "But if we had Carl's DNA, then we could run it against any other Atkins bastards who show up. And if you track down where Robert Atkins is supposed to be buried, we can run it against whoever is in his grave. We might even be able to prove if there is a familiar match."
"That all sounds good," I said, "but how do we get his DNA? I know none of us are going to get anywhere close to him unless we let ourselves get captured." I quickly held a hand up when I heard several rumbling disagreements with that plan. "I wasn't suggesting it. I was just making a point."
"No one is going to go out and get caught," Hank snapped. "Atkins has too many contacts in places around the world that we might not be able to rescue you from. I seriously doubt a former military man would be allowed into Dubai, you know?"
Cooper chuckled. "You'd be surprised."
I turned to look at the man. "You've been to Dubai?"
"I have." Cooper nodded. "You'd be amazed where you can go if you grease the right palms."
Considering how much money Atkins had and the things he did with it, no, I wouldn't.
"So, we put the DNA thing on the shelf for now, but if the opportunity arises to scratch the rat bastard…" I shrugged. "I say go for it."
"That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard."
I slowly panned to look at Jack. "You have a better idea, genius?"
"Yeah, we find this jackass and center tap his ass."
"As joyful as that sounds, how do you intend to find Atkins?" I asked as I turned and gave Jack my full attention. "You know as well as every man at this table that we've been looking everywhere for him, and even though we now know he's in the States, we still can't find him. So, how are you going to find him, Jack? Your magic eight ball?"
Jack's jaw firmed for a moment before he snapped, "It's certainly better than sitting around and talking it to death. It's like you just like to hear your lips flap."
"There are a lot of things I like to do with my lips, Jack. Flapping them is not one of them." I smirked as I raised an eyebrow. "At least not without a good reason."
I heard a couple of snickers, but watching Jack's eyes go cold made me realize snarking at him might not have been my best move. Tensions were high right now, especially between the two of us.
When Jack got up and stormed out of the room without another word, I suspected there was an apology in my future.
Damn it.
Chapter Six
"Hey, Kaito, can I talk to you for a moment?"
